Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which it is expected to maintain the highest possible quality, standard and range of health services in all regions throughout the country in the current and future years notwithstanding the budgetary curtailment commitments entered into by his predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24190/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Service Plan sets out the type and volume of service the HSE will provide directly, or through a range of funded agencies, during 2012. The Plan was prepared in the context of the challenges faced by the health services this year in terms of reduced staffing levels, and a reduced budget, combined with increasing demand for services. The Plan also takes account of additional funding being invested this year in areas such as mental health services, primary care, Fair Deal, the national clinical care programmes and children's services. In line with the Plan, the HSE will minimise the impact on front line services by fast tracking new, innovative and more efficient ways of using reducing resources. New models of care will be introduced across all services, which will treat patients at the lowest level of complexity and provide quality services at the least possible cost. The roll out of the National Clinical Care Programmes and Special Delivery Unit initiatives will also deliver greater productivity. My Department continues to work with the HSE to mitigate the impact of retirements and to ensure that the contingency plans are operating satisfactorily and that all critical front line services continue to be delivered across all regions. This includes using the provisions of the Public Service Agreement such as greater flexibility in work practices and rosters, and maximising redeployment. Staff resources will continue to be allocated to areas of greatest priority. Clearly, the need for dynamic and pro-active management of the impact of reduced staffing and budgets will continue throughout the year and in this context the National Service Plan is the subject of continuous review by the HSE Board. The Government is committed to developing a universal, single-tier health service, which guarantees access to medical care based on need, not income and that continues to be our aim. This year we will deliver two important measures with the allocation of €35m for new mental health services and €15m necessary to provide free GP care for people with specified illnesses, which were promised in the Programme for Government. This underlines our commitment to health service reform and to the maintenance of high quality services to the greatest extent possible within the resources available.